Wire carrier and stretcher.



J. A. FOUTS.

WIRE CARRIER AND STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED our. 5. m5.

1,214,772. Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

.l. A. FOUTS.

WIRE CARRIER AND STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED 001. a. 1915.

1,214,772. Patented Feb. 6,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Zao JOHN A. FOUTS, OF OSBORNE, KANSAS.

WIRE oannrnn AND srnnronnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

Application filed October 5, 1915. Serial No. 54,240.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN, A. Fours, a citizen of the United States, residing at Usborne, in the county of Osborne and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Carriers and Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wire carriers and stretchers designed for use in setting and stretching wire fences.

The invention has for its primary object to provide a simple and efficient wheelmounted wire carrier embodying novel and eii eient means for removably and rotatably supporting spools of fence wire.

Another object is the provision of a wire carrier and stretcher embodying means for securing the wheel-mounted frame against movement while the wire is being stretched.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved wire stretcher and carrier, Fig. 2 represents an end elevation thereof, Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the carrier and stretcher, partly broken away, illustrating the side opposite that illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 represents a fragmental sectional View on the line H of Fig. 3, Fig. 5 represents a fragmental sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4-,.Fig. 6 represents a fragmental perspective view of one of the side members or standards of the supporting frame of the carrier and stretcher, illustrating one of the pivoted pawls in detail, and Fig. 7 represents a perspective view of the fence wire spacing member applied to use.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similarreference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 8 indicates a supporting 14 so. as to permit the latter to be with- 105 axle upon the opposite ends of which are secured supporting wheels 9, and to which i is also secured a handle or tongue 10 ex tending rearwardly from the supporting axle Y 8 and designed to facilitate convenient trans portation of the stretcher and carrier. A pair of curved anchoring members 10 are pivotally secured at 11 to and project forwardly of the axle 8. A pair of spaced and inclined guide members or uprights 12 are rigidly secured to the supporting axle 8, inclined toward the handle 10 and are conn cted with the latter by braces 13.

The uprights 12 are formed with a plurality of openings rotatably receiving spool supporting shafts 14. One end of each shaft is squared, as at 15, to receive a correspondingly shaped aperture formed in one end of a hand crank 16, whereby the shafts may be rotated. The opposite end of each shaft 14; is rigidly secured to a ratchet wheel 17, which latter is engaged with the outer surface of the adjacent uprights 12 and is adapted to cooperate with a pawl 18, pivotally secured at 19 to the uprights 12 to lock the shaft against rotary movement in one direction. The pawl 1.8 is provided with an angular extension 19 constituting a handle, whereby the pawl can be swung out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 17. The pawls are normally retained in engagement with the ratchet teeth by moving the handles 19 upwardly over the inclined surfaces 21 formed upon one of the uprights 12 and allowing said handles to rest upon shoulders 22, projecting laterally of the uprights. A retaining plate 23 is pivotally secured adjacent its upper end upon a bolt 2e connecting the upper portions of the uprights 12, and is adapted, when swung into parallel relation to the adjacent uprights 12, to overlie the ratchet wheels 17 and thus retain the latter, together with the shafts 14 in operative position.

The usual or any preferred type of wire reel or spool 26 is non-rotatably secured upon each of the shafts 14 by a pair of diametrically opposed wings 27, secured to the shafts inwardly of the upright 12, and engaged in corresponding recesses formed in the adjacent end member of the spool 26.

. It will be understood that the uprights 12 adjacent the wings 17 are formed with a l pair of diametrically opposed recesses 1n 1 the wall of the aperture receiving the shaft jjdrawn, when desired. The upright 12 opposite the one carrying he pawls 18 is provided adjacent each of he shaft-receiving openings therein with a pring 29, the free end of which engages the adjacent end of the spool 26 for retarding the rotary movement of the latter. The

tension of the spring 29 may be varied, as desired, by an adjusting screw 30 fitted in an internally screw threaded aperture formed in the upright 12 adjacent the shaft receiving opening therein and engaged at its inner end with the spring.

In the practical use of the machine, the stretcher and carrier may be conveniently conveyed from place to place and when the fence wire has been arranged along a series of posts the stretcher is anchored in adjusted position by swinging the anchoring members downwardly and engaging them in the earth. Then by applying the hand crank 15 to the shaft 1% and turning the latter the wire is set. VI hen it is desired to remove or replace one of the wire containing spools 26, the retaining plate 23 is swung upon its pivotal axis 24 to expose the ratchet wheels 17 and the shaft upon which the spool to be replaced is supported is re moved longitudinally from the uprights 12 and the new spool substituted therefor. When the machine is being used as a fence wire stretcher the handles 19 are swung into the position illustrated in Fig. 3, so as to engage the pawls 18 with the ratchet wheels 17 and thus lock the shafts against rotary movement in one direction. However, when the machine is used for carrying wire the handles 19 are bent or flexed outwardly so as to avoid the shoulders 22, and are swung downwardly to the position illustrated in Fig. 6 so as to move the pawl 18 out of engagement with the ratchet wheels 17 For supporting the fence wires in proper spaced relation during stretching thereof I provide spacing bar lO, clearly illustrated in Fig. 7, and in which are secured laterally projecting pins 4C1 upon which the fence wires 42 are supported. One end of a chain or other flexible member 43 is secured centrally to the spacing bar 40 and is adapted to be coiled or wound about the fence post 44 to secure the bar i0 in position thereon. The free end of the chain 43, subsequent to looping or winding it about the post 44, is engaged with one of the fence wires &2.

What I claim is:

1. A wire carrier and stretcher including an axle, supporting wheels rotatably se cured to said axle, a handle carried by said axle, a pair of parallel uprights secured to said axle and arranged at an angle to said handle, bracing members connecting the upper extremities of said uprights with said handle.

2. A wire carrier and stretcher including an axle, supporting wheels rotatably secured to said axle, a handle carried by said axle, a pair of uprights secured in spaced relation to said axle, bracing members connecting the upper extremities of said up rights to said handle, and curved anchoring members pivotally secured to said axle and projecting forwardly thereof.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. FOUTS.

Witnesses E. R. HAHN, W. H. HOWELL.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

